The
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has a strong commitment to human
rights, equity and inclusion, and recognizes and respects the diversity
across our faith and cultural communities. Throughout the year, many
OCDSB students and staff members may be absent from school or work to
observe a particular religious/creed date or date of cultural
significance. To better meet the needs of students, staff members, and
families, the OCDSB avoids scheduling events, evaluations, field trips,
and other important activities on many of these dates. The information
below provides guidance for the observance of faith days and dates of
significance by all schools and workplaces in the District.
Starred Dates
“Starred
Dates” represent dates of observance identified as most significant to
faith and spiritual groups served by the District. Events should not be
scheduled on these dates, for staff or for students, unless there are
significant extenuating circumstances. Exceptions are sometimes made in
the case of extended field trips, which are made with Superintendent
approval and take into consideration the impact to students and staff
participating, the availability of learning opportunities and their
educational value. “Starred Dates” are reflected in the chart below.
2023
Date
|
Days of Observance
|
Faith or Observed by
|
|
September 16 & 17, 2023 *
|
Rosh Hashanah
|
Judaism
(Commence on evening of Sept. 15)
|
|
September 25, 2023*
|
Yom Kippur
|
Judaism
(Commence on evening of Sept. 24)
|
|
September 30, 2023*
|
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
|
Indigenous
|
|
October 24, 2023*
|
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
|
Hinduism
|
|
November 12, 2023*
|
Diwali
|
Hinduism
|
|
December 25, 2023*
|
Christmas
|
Christianity
|
2024
| Date |
Days of Observance
|
Faith or Observed by
|
|
January 7, 2024 *
|
Christmas – Feast of the Nativity
|
Christian (Orthodox)
|
|
February 10, 2024 *
|
Lunar New Year - Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean New Year
|
Buddhism/ Confucian/Daoism
|
|
March 29, 2024 *
|
Good Friday
|
Christianity
|
|
March 31, 2024 *
|
Easter
|
Christianity
|
|
April 10, 11, 12 2024 *
|
Eid-al-Fitr **
(End of Ramadan)
|
Islam (3 days Holy Days)
(Commence on evening of Apr. 9/10)
|
|
April 20 2024 *
|
Ridvan
|
Bahá’i (12-day Festival)
(Commence on evening of April 19)
|
|
April 23 & 24 *
April 29 & 30 *
|
Pesach (Passover)
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of April 22)
First two and last two days are observed as holy days
|
|
May 3, 2024 *
|
Holy Friday
|
Christianity (Orthodox)
|
|
May 5, 2024*
|
Orthodox Easter
|
Christianity (Orthodox)
|
|
June 17, 18, 19, 20 2024 *
|
Eid-al-Adha **
|
Islam (4 days Holy Days)
(Commence on evening of June 16/17)
|
|
July 16, 2024 *
|
Ashura **
|
Islam (Commence on evening of July 15)
|
Note: * Tentative dates subject to the sighting of the moon each month
** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date
All Islamic, Jewish and Bahá'i Holy days commence at sunset on the preceding day. |
For some observances there are a range of days considered Holy or of
significance. These are provided where applicable in the third column
for information purposes and are not considered Starred Days.
Dates of Observance
The
“Dates of Observance” listed in the chart below represent dates, or a
range of dates, that should also be considered (in addition to the
Starred Dates above) when scheduling events in schools and across the
District, in order to avoid impacting students and staff who may be
observing them.
2023
| Date |
Days of Observance
|
Faith or Observed by
|
|
Sept 30 - Oct 6, 2023
|
Sukkot
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of Sept. 29)
|
|
October 8, 2023
|
Simchat Torah
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of Oct. 7)
|
|
November 16, 2023
|
Louis Riel Day
|
Indigenous
|
|
November 27, 2023
|
Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
|
Sikhism
|
|
December 1, 2023
|
Nunatsiavut Day
|
Indigenous
|
|
December 8 - 15, 2023
|
Hanukkah
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of Dec. 7)
|
2024
Date
|
Days of Observance
|
Faith or Observed by
|
|
January 5, 2024
|
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
|
Sikhism
|
|
January 14, 2024
|
Makar Sankranti
|
Hinduism
|
|
February 14, 2024
|
Ash Wednesday
|
Christianity
|
|
February 24, 2024
|
Magha Puja Day
|
Buddhism
|
|
March 20, 2024
|
Naw Ruz
|
Bahá’i (Commence on evening of March 19)
|
|
March 21, 2024
|
Nowruz (Ismaili)
|
Islam (Commence on evening of March 20)
|
|
March 21, 2024
|
Nowruz (New Year’s Day)
Persian New Year
|
Zoroastrianism
|
|
March 24, 2024
|
Purim
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of March 23)
|
|
March 25, 2024
|
Holi
|
Hinduism
|
|
May 23, 2024
|
Wesak/Vesak
|
Buddhist (Date based on local/regional customs)
|
|
June 12 & 13, 2024
|
Shavuot
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of June 11)
|
|
June 21, 2024
|
National Indigenous Peoples Day
|
Indigenous
|
|
July 7, 2024
|
First of Muharram**
|
Islam (Commence on evening of July 6)
|
|
July 9, 2024
|
Martyrdom of The Báb
|
Bahá’í (Commence on evening of July 8)
|
|
August 13, 2023
|
Tish’a B’Av
|
Judaism (Commence on evening of Aug. 12)
|
April 13, 2024
|
Vaisakhi
|
Sikhism
|
Note: * Tentative dates subject to the sighting of the moon each month
** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date
All Islamic, Jewish and Bahá'i Holy days commence at sunset on the preceding day.
|
For some observances there are a range of days considered Holy or of
significance. These are provided where applicable in the third column
for information purposes and are not considered Starred Days.
MultiFaith Calendar and Additional Dates
There
are many additional dates of religious, cultural, educational, and
identity-based significance throughout the year. Information about these
dates may be included in class lessons, shared on social media, posted
on the District website, or shared in other channels. These dates
provide important opportunities to learn about the histories,
celebrations, and challenges faced by various communities.